Ralf Schumacher Questions Max Verstappen’s Future with Red Bull Racing
In a recent episode of the German Sky Sports podcast, Backstage Boxengasse, former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher shared his thoughts on the future of Max Verstappen within the Red Bull Racing team. The four-time world champion’s future, according to Schumacher, hinges on one critical factor: patience. He expressed that while Red Bull desires to keep Verstappen, the driver is looking for a competitive car, which is not currently guaranteed.
Concerns Over Team Environment
Schumacher didn’t hold back in his assessment of the current atmosphere at Red Bull Racing. He openly criticized the environment, citing the leadership of Christian Horner and the technical director Pierre Waché as areas of concern. According to Schumacher, the team is not in a favorable position. He remarked, “The atmosphere isn’t good with Horner. People who have worked there before do not want to return. They’ve tried everything, and nothing has worked. Now they need new personnel, and that takes time.”
Following years of dominance, especially marked by the onset of ground effect cars, Red Bull Racing is currently facing a significant decline in performance. Schumacher believes this downturn is likely to continue in the near future. He pointed out that while the performance in Imola appeared strong, it was largely due to the characteristics of the track favoring their car. The same can be said for Suzuka, where conditions were also beneficial.
Verstappen’s Current Standing
As it stands, Verstappen is currently positioned third in the championship standings, trailing Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the title race. Despite this, he continues to extract impressive performances from the RB21, which stands in stark contrast to the results delivered by his teammates, Liam Lawson in the first two races of the year and Yuki Tsunoda from the Japanese Grand Prix onward.
Schumacher’s perspective is that if Verstappen decides he wants to leave the team before his contract expires in 2028, he will likely find a way to do so. “If a driver wants to leave, there’s no way to stop him. He will figure it out. The real question is what gives him hope that Red Bull will build a winning car again? The updates have not worked; why should we believe that Pierre Waché will build a miraculous car now?” he added.
Loyalty and Time for Decision
Despite his critical remarks, Schumacher acknowledges that Verstappen has a strong bond with the team and is not in a rush to make any decisions. “Max has time. He can wait until the mid-season break or even beyond that. He also owes a lot to Red Bull. Deep down, he probably wants to stay because the team feels like family to him,” the former driver concluded.
The dynamics of Verstappen’s situation highlight the intricate balance between a driver’s personal ambitions and the team’s performance capabilities. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how both Verstappen and Red Bull Racing navigate their challenges and opportunities.
